Dragons are in Town

Hello friends

Yesterday morning we went into Blackpool, in the pouring rain, because Chinese dragons were coming and also a Chinese market in celebration of the Chinese New Year next Friday. unfortunately we were disappointed with the market because there were only two Chinese stall, the rest were non Chinese related promotions that we didn't bother with. We were hoping to get some fortune cookies for L because she is doing a Chinese New Year presentation at Guides next Monday.

The rain finally stopped just in time for the dragons to arrive.  first came the long dragon chasing a shiny ball meanwhile much further down the street, two dancing dragons were coming up. As they came up other little dragons got ready including a tiny one (two youngsters). Then the drummer started (I chose the wrong place to stand, near the drummer) and a battle commenced and all the while the long dragon was chasing the ball.

The dragons are so colourful and the dancers controlling the dragons were very fit getting down low without sitting on the wet floor and lifting the heads high.

The dancers were from Liverpool and were of different nationalities which was nice to see.

There were firecrackers going off.


We watched the display for fifteen minutes and although it was continuing we had to leave because out parking ticket was running out. We really enjoyed what we saw and Next Sunday we are hoping to go to Manchester's China town to see their New Year celebrations, I'm sure we will find some fortune cookies there. Last year 75,000 people visited Manchester to see the dragons so the atmosphere should be amazing, we're really looking forward to it as we've never been before.

Is anyone else doing/going anywhere foe Chinese New Year?

Carolx

Latest Make and Catch Up

Hello friends

Recently my SIL to be found some baby patterns that that she really loved, a hat, jacket and a dress and asked if I would knit them for the baby. I said I would because they are lovely patterns and also they would be in keeping with this years challenge. So here is the hat with loops all over it. The loop stitch was new to me and was quite time consuming until I got used to it. The yarn I used was a random type one. SIL loved it. I've started the jacket and that's crocheted. This is done in two colours so I've picked pink and white (surprise surprise). I'll do a show and tell when I've completed that one. This is slow growing which is unusual for crochet.

This past two weeks I've had a few days working at my old school doing some exam invigilating. I feel so pleased when they ask me because it means that they have trust me especially when most of the invigilating I do is one to one with special education need students. The next time will be for the GCSE mocks which they think will be in March.

I wonder if I could ask you all a little favour. One of L's friends will be 15 in a couple of weeks and I'm looking for inexpensive ideas for a gift. This friend always get L some lovely presents for her birthday and Christmas and we feel a bit stuck this time, can you help?

Thank you for dropping by and I look forward to reading your suggestions.


Carolx

New Year Challenges

Hello friends

It's great to be back. We had a lovely Christmas at home and with extended family. We were then all poorly with a stomach bug, L being worst hit and me the least. We were recovered by New Years Eve but lacked energy however we all managed to stay up to see the new year in (although I fell asleep half an hour before).
During the two week break L and I did some crafty bits.  We have two sets of the Jenga blocks. L decided to paint one set in rainbow colours. They looks so bright and colourful and a joy to play with.

I did some crocheting. This is my diary cover. I think I made it a little too small because it made the corners curl outwards so I made straps to keep them down and also to keep any loos papers safe. I always seem to collect loose bits of paper in my diaries. Anyone else do that? Next I made a cover for L's new tablet. I also made a little pocket for under the flap for any memory discs she wants to use.

I made my shopping list pad by cutting up my old calendar, any one else do that? I used to just throw them away in recycling bin.

I haven't made any new year resolutions because I never keep them but I have set some challenges again this year:

1 Continue with the decluttering 365 things. It worked well last year and we still have far too much in our home.

2 I would like to loose three stone before August. I lost 2 stone last year after I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. So I want to continue with my new eating plan (was hard over the holidays). And why August, well, my youngest brother is getting married in Jamaica and we are going with them (sooo excited, It's a dream holiday) and L is bridesmaid. I will still have some way to go to get to my "perfect" weight but I want to make each step achievable.

3 I need to improve my time management. I spend way too much time procrastinating and not doing.  I feel I need to get myself more organised and in the long run I think it will help me for when I return to the world of work. How am I going to do this? I'm going to get an appointment diary and book in my daily tasks and appointments and I just might succeed if I see it written down.

4 Use my recipe books more to make tastier family meals. I don't mean going silly and making gourmet meals but just ordinary tasty meals. I feel that I have become a rubbish cook.

5 I will continue to knit and crochet and maybe some sewing but I want to try something a bit more challenging this year. I will show and tell in time.

I still want keep things frugal as much as I can, Yeah I know going to Jamaica is not very frugal but I will tell you about that another time.

It has finally stopped raining and I need to go out so I will catch up with you all again soon and thanks for dropping by and your new year messages.

Try to keep safe and dry

Carolx

Happy New Year

Hello Friends

Hope you all managed  to have a good Christmas and that you were all safe. Unfortunately there were many that had Christmas cancelled, postponed or just spoiled due to the bad weather and it looks like new year celebrations will also be bad for many others too. Hopefully they'll manage to get cleaned up and back into their homes soon.

I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe new year, not just for the time of celebration but for the whole year too.

Best wishes for 2014 and I will see you all again very soon. Thank you for popping by

Carolx

2013 Challenges and Needles

Hello friends

I've been thinking about next years challenges and what I would like to achieve and as yet I've not decided as there a quite a few going around in my head. My plan is not to set too many so that it's impossible to achieve them. When I have made my decision I will let you know. Back to this years challenges did I succeed or not?

Blog twice a week I started well with this but in the end I couldn't keep it up because sometimes I didn't have anything to say and other times I just didn't have the time and other times I did have something to say but no pictures because I forgot my camera (ah carry my camera all the time challenge).  Will I be able to do this in 2014? probably not. Although we don't have a gala float to build this year my mum is getting worse (has Alzheimer's/dementia) and has entered into the later stages so dad is going to need more help.

Declutter 365 items from our home Yes! I succeeded in this one 555 items have nearly left our home. still have about 10 things to sell. We have bought a few items but not 555. L had a clear out of her room (she did so well. Really proud of her) and made lots of space. We sent a lot of things to charity, passed a few things onto others that was useful to them, binned other stuff that was of no use to anyone and could not be he recycled, recycled and sold some stuff. This challenge I will repeat again next year because we still have way too much stuff.

Set up a shop on Folksy After lots of research I didn't set up a shop on this web site because after deducting the commission and other fees I wouldn't earn much so I decided to set up my own web site, www.l&ccraft.com This has not been successful and luckily I only signed up for one year. I will not renew my membership when it's due. I do get lots of hits but no buyers.

No spend days This was a good one but I forgot to keep a record as most days were a no spend day anyway. Some months I only went to the supermarket to do the weekly shop so it was a whole month of no spending. I won't bother with this one next year as it's normal and not a challenge.

Now for the needle. This morning I went into hospital to have a small procedure done. Since October I have been back and forth to the hospital to have scans done and see the consultant to get a diagnosis then a decision about the treatment. I have fluid around the macular of my left eye and has made the vision very blurred and there is only one treatment. A steroid injection into the eye. Yep into the eye. I was feeling quite sick this morning whilst M was driving me to the hospital. I was worried that it was going to hurt, or would they numb my eye? They did put some numbing drops into my eye just before I went into theatre. I had to lie on the bed and the surgeon put this blue cloth over my face with a window in it so that he could see my eye. I felt the needle and said "ouch" so he had to stop and put some more numbing drops in and then continue. Back in the waiting room I joined the lady who was sat next to me. She was really scared and was quietly tearful. I chatted to her and asked about her children and after my procedure I told her the facts and not what happened to me I didn't want to scare her anymore. She was ok afterwards. All the staff were wonderful they do a great job - Thank you.
Now I have to wear a clear eye patch until tomorrow morning and use some antibiotic drops for a week. and then a check up a week later. My eye feels very uncomfortable at the moment it feels dry and sore. I feel I want to rub it but thankfully I can't with the patch on. M thinks I'm a pirate and I tell him it's the new Christmas accessory.

Nearly time to get L from school, she's on a half day today, so I will say bye for now and thank you for popping by I love to read your comments and if I don't make it before Christmas I hope you all have a great one and an even better New Year.

Carolx

Christmas Festival and Victorian Market

Hello friends

Last night we went to a Christmas festival and Victorian Market.  We went last year but it was so cold and damp that we didn't enjoy it much so decided that we would go again this year as it was dry and see if it was any different.

The stall holders were meant to dress up in Victorian costume but didn't. However there were a few people dressed in costume but I suspect that they were the committee.
There were many food stalls selling burgers, hotpot, curry, chips. and some were selling drinks like mulled wine, tea, coffee and hot chocolate.  A few other stalls selling other types of food stuff and one or two selling Christmas items. Most of the shops were open for business but nothing we were looking for.

We met these two happy people. I loved their costumes, or were they the real ones? What do you think?

  
We also met this very tall guy. There were two of them, not sure where the other one was. They mingled with the crowd, shaking hands of the adult males and high fiving the children and posed for photos with children and actually managed to crouch down almost to their level. Their costumes were white and silver and quite magnificent. As you can guess these were the highlight of my evening. L's highlight was probably the chips and hot chocolate oh and not forgetting the hot donuts. M's highlight? having the evening off from taxiing. I think we might give it a miss next year.

Does anyone else go to similar festivals at Christmas time?
And what are they like?

Carolx

Christmas Decoration Swap

Hello friends

Hope everyone is ok after the terrible winds and high seas.  In my little corner of the Northwest coast we did suffer high winds with the sea coming over the wall but, compared to other places around the country, our coast appears to have got off quite lightly. There was damage to some buildings and trees felled and some flooding.

Now back to the title.  I joined Ladybird Diaries in her Christmas decoration swap and was linked with Chrissie from Chrissie Crafts. This is what I received last week

 

 

The little crocheted Christmas tree is just gorgeous. Chrissie felt that the tree wasn't enough (she is very generous) and added a small jar of homemade Quince and Pumpkin chutney to it. I can't wait until Christmas to try it. The Christmas card is lovely. The scene is a print of a painting done by one of her neighbours of their village green. I had fun making my make for the swap. I can't tell you much more because I don't know if it's arrived yet. If you pop over to Chrissie's blog in a few days she might let you have a peep. Chrissie has done a tutorial on how to make the tree if anyone is interested.

 

I've finished my baby niece's Christmas present. Do you want to see? ok, here it is.

 

 

 

I think that is my Christmas knitting finished, Still some shopping to do, lots of wrapping, cleaning and tidying in readiness for putting up the tree and other decorations.

 

 

Have a good week everyone

 

Carolx